Nontipping drinking-glass coaster



April 10, 1962 N. J. ST. cYR

NONTIPPING DRINKING-GLASS COASTER Filed Jan. 30. 1961 INVENTOR air.- BY

9 9L ATTORN Y8 United States Patent iiice 3,628,702 Patented Apr. 10, 1962 3,028,702 NONTIPPING DRINKING-GLASS COASTER Napoleon J. St. Cyr, 565Garfield Ave., Bridgeport, Conn. Filed Jan. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 35,797 1Claim. ($1. 45-684) This invention relates to supports for cup-likecontainers, such as drinkingglasses, which are commonly referred to ascoasters, which are utilized to protect a supporting surface, forexample, the top of a table or other furniture, when a person utilizingsuch a container temporarily places it down on such a surface.

It is a common experience for people to encounter on social occasions,such as when they are seated about a living-room and indulging in liquidrefreshment, difficulty in temporarily placing down a drinking-glass ona piece of furniture. Usually a coaster is provided which approximatesthe form of a saucer. Unless a table is readily available, thedrinking-glass cannot be placed down for the usual coaster is incapableof being accommodated on most irregular surfaces, such as the arms ofchairs and the like. Furthermore, the usual coaster does not grip adrinking-glass and retain it in position; therefore, the drinking-glassis subject to sliding movement on the usual coaster. It frequentlyoccurs on such occasions, much to the embarrassment of the guest, that adrinking-glass topples over and often damage results, particuly if thebeverage is alcoholic. Such a mishap results from either or both thedrinking-glass sliding off the coaster during the usual manipulation ofthe drinkingglass and coaster, or the attempt by a user to balance thedrinking-glass and coaster on an irregular supporting surface.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved coaster fordrinking-glass or the like which includes a glass support that firmlypositions and retains a drinking-glass and a mounting base that isarranged and constructed to accommodate and conform to any irregularsupporting surface that is ordinarily found in a living-room on which itmay be desired to rest a drinking-glass.

The object of this invention is achieved in one form by providing. animproved drinking-glass coaster which comprises a cup-shaped support forremovably but securely receiving a'drinking-glass and a flexiblemounting base which readily and automatically adapts itself and conformsto the configuration of an irregular supporting surface, andthereby-safely supports the entire assemblyof the coaster with thedrinking-glass mounted thereon in an upright position.

The above, other objects and further details of that which I believe tobe novel and my invention will be clear from the following descriptionand claim taken with the accompanying drawings wherein; 7

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of my invention withportions broken away and shown in section for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the FIG.1 embodiment shown as it appearsfrom above and one side when resting on a substantially flat surface;

FIG. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the FIG. 1 embodimentwhen in operative condition being supported on an irregular surfaceand-supporting a drinking-glass;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the upper portion ofanother embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the FIG. 4 modification inoperative condition showing a drinkingglass supported therein.

In FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, whereinthe improved, nontipping, drinkingglass coaster is designated thereingenerally by the reference numeral 10. Coaster 10 comprises essentiallya drinking-glass support 12 and a mounting base 14.

The drinking-glass support 12 comprises a rigid, cup shaped member thatmay be conveniently made of metal, a rigid plastic or any other suitablerigid material. Drinking-glass support 12 comprises a circular, flatbottom wall 16 and a cylindrical side wall 18 having its axis verticallyoriented. The upper portion of the drinking-glass support 12 is formed,in a manner to be described in greater detail subsequently, to berigidly secured to the mounting base 14 to form a unitary coasterassembly. Within the drinking-glass support 12 there is formed means forpositioning and retaining a drinkingglass, in the form of a plurality ofdownwardly extending, spring fingers 20 that are individually secured attheir upper ends to the side wall 1-8, as by the rivets 22 or any otherconvenient equivalent securing means. The lower ends 24 of the springfingers 20 are arcuately curved with their convex sides facing radiallyinwardly and are each spaced radially inwardly from the side wall 18.

The mounting base 14 comprises a loose sack 26 of flexible material,such as fabric, resilient plastic material or any other suitableresilient material, that may conveniently be formed in sections andbonded or sewn together at seams 28. Sack 26 is generally bowl-shapedand includes an upper portion 39 which is constricted to form a mouth32. The sack 26 is partially filled with a plurality" of loose weightedpellets 34, such as beans, sand, gravel or shot.

To assemble the coaster, after the weighted pellets have been disposedin the sack 26, the drinking-glass support 12 is lowered, bottom wall 16first, into the sack 26 through the mouth 32 thereof. The upper end 36of the sack 26 is then curled around a rigid ring 38 that is co-axiallydisposed relative to the upper portion of the drinking-glass support 12.The upper portion of the drinking-glass support 12 is then curled aroundboth the sacks upper end 36 andring 38, and crimpedthereabout at 41} toretain the drinking-glass support 12 and mounting base 11in fullyassembled condition. If the drinking-glass support is made of metal thecurling of its upper portion may readily be accomplished by crimping.

In operation of the FIGS. 1-3 embodiment after'it is fully assembled,thedrinking-glass G, filled with a bev-' erage B, is disposed in thedrinking-glass support 12 by the user inserting its bottom therein. Thediameter of the cylindrical side wall 18 may vary according to choice;however, it will be such as to accommodate drinkingglasses ofconventional size but to require slight pressure to force them into thedrinking-glass support to bias the free ends 24 of the spring fingers 20radially outwardly in order to accomplish such mounting. When mounted inthe drinking-glass support 12, the drinking-glass G is securely retainedtherein by the spring fingers 20 which are individually biased radiallyinwardly as a result of their inherent flexibility and they contacttheside of the drinking-glass and retain it. The assembled drinkingglassand coaster 10 may then be placed on a supporting surface. In so doing,the mounting base 14 will automatically accommodate itself and conformto the shape of the supporting surface, and thereafter securely retainboth the coaster and drinking-glass in an upright position.

In FIG. 3 this operational relationship is illustrated, and thesupporting surface S is illustrated as being arouate in cross section,as the arms of many armchairs are configured. It will be understood,however, that the mounting base 14 will accommodate itself to anyreasonably irregularly-shaped supporting surface, and that thisdesirable operation results from the automatic shifting of the looselymounted, weighted pellets 34 within the sack 26. It will also beunderstood that in practical usage of the improved coaster, glass G willbe frequently, intermittently lifted to the lips of the user. When thisis done, the user has an option of either removing the glass G from thecoaster it for example, either by: 1) gripping the mounting base 14 withone hand and pulling the drinking-glass upwardly relative to the coasterwith the other hand and leaving the coaster on the support, or (2) bylifting the entire, temporarily assembled, drinking-glass and coaster.In order to facilitate operation, the sack 26 may have its exterior madeof a roughly textured material to aid in gripping. When used in thelatter manner, it will be observed that the improved coaster has animportant advantage over known coasters in that known coastersfrequently get misplaced or fall in usage and the user thereafter placesthe on the top of a piece of furniture, because he may not want tobother the hostess for another coaster. However, when utilizing theimproved coaster, it may be left attached to the glass, and therefore,it is always present when the glass is placed on supporting surfaceafter the user has sipped from it. Furthermore, in so using the improvedcoaster, it functions additionally to prevent the hand of the user fromcontacting the moisture which usually forms on a drinking-glass,particularly one containing a very cold beverage.

The FIGS. 4 and 5 embodiment of the invention is constructed andoperates in substantially the same manner as the FIGS. 1-3 embodiment,with the exception of the means for positioning and retaining thedrinkingglass in the coaster. Therefore, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the samereference numerals as those employed in FIGS. 1-3 have been employedwith a prime added to designate portions which correspond in bothembodiments.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, only a portion of the mounting base 14' has beenillustrated, namely, the sack 26 having the seams 28; ho 'ever, itshould be clearly understood that the remainder of the mounting base 14'is substantially identical to the mounting base 14. The drinking-glasssupport 12' includes circular, fiat, bottom wall 16 and cylindrical sideWall 18'. Means for positioning and retaining a drinking-glass is formedon the glass support 12 and comprises an arcuately bent, leaf spring 42that is disposed within the side wall 18 intermediate the top and bottomedges thereof and is secured thereto at one of its ends in anyconvenient manner, such as by the rivet 4-4. The free end of the leafspring 42 is formed into or supports an enlarged tab 46 having an upper,radilly outwardly, curved edge 43. The radius of the leaf spring 42. isless than that of the upper edge of the side wall 18, and therefore, theleaf spring is initially disposed so that tab 46 is spaced radiallyinwardly of the side wall 18', as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5.

When it is desired to place a glass G into the FIGS. 4 and 5 type ofcoaster, its bottom is inserted through the open upper end of thedrinking-glass support 12, and a side portion of it will engage the tab46 and force it radially outwardly, the curved edge 48 eof the tabfacilitating such insertion and operation. In order to mount thedrinking-glass, it is necessary to stress the leaf spring 42 and forcethe tab 46 to its solid line position in FIG. 5; therefore, after thedrinking-glass is mounted, it is securely retained in mounted positionby the leaf spring which biases the tab 46 against a portion of the sideof the drinking-glass and forces another portion of the drinking-glassagainst a portion of the cylindrical side wall 18'.

glass The FIGS. 4 and 5 coaster operates in the same general manner asthe FIGS. l-3 embodiment when placed in practical usage, the onlydifference between the embodiments residing in the means for positioningand retaining a drinking-glass. Regardless of the type of glasspositioning and retaining means employed, it will be understood that itmay be made of a noncorrosive flexible material, such as a spring steelwhich may be chrome plated. As pointed out above, my improved coastersare intended to be manufactured in varying diameter sizes; however, inany given diameter size, there should be sulficient flexibility in theglass-retaining means so as to permit the accommodation ofdrinking-glasses that vary in diameter within a range of approximatelyone-half inch.

In view of the foregoining it will be apparent that I have provided animproved coaster for a drinking-glass which possesses the followingprincipal advantages over known coasters: (1) it includes means forpositively, firmly supporting a drinking-glass; (2) it includes meansfor eliminating getting the hands of the user wet from condensedmoisture on the drinking-glass, and (3) it includes means for permittingit to be mounted on irregular supporting surfaces.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, cer tain aspects ofmy invention are not limited to the particular details of constructionof the examples illustrated, and l contemplate that various and othermodifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art.It is, therefore, my intention that the appended claim shall cover suchmodifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit andscope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

A drinking-glass coaster comprising: means for supporting adrinking-glass including a rigid cup-shaped member having a flat bottomwall adapted to support the bottom of a glass and a cylindrical sidewall arranged to surround a portion of such a glass; flexible means inthe form of an arcuately bent leaf spring that has a radius that is lessthan said member secured at one of its ends to said member on theinterior thereof near the open top of said member and disposed to extendtransversely relative to the axis of said member and have its free endspaced radially inwardly of said member; an enlarged tab formed at thefree end of said spring having an upper curved radially outwardlyextending edge disposed to engage and facilitate insertion of adrinking-glass into said member; said spring being arranged to have itsfree end resiliently radially displaceable to engage the side of adrinkingglass that is inserted into said member and firmly retain thedrinking-glass therein after it is disposed in said member by biasing ittoward said side wall; and a mounting base comprising a flexible sacksecured to said member and extending loosely around and beneath it; achamber formed between said member and said sack; and a plurality ofsmall weights loosely partially filling said chamber and freely movableand shiftable therein to automatically rearrange themselves to permitsaid sack to conform to the shape of the surface on which said mountingbase is placed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,219,974 Bellow Oct. 29, 1940 2,638,297 Weinberger May 12, 19532,761,580 Tamboles Sept. 4, 1956

